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How to Put Mind Over Mouth

By Carin Gorrell

Jean Kristeller, Ph.D., president of the board of directors at the Center for Mindful Eating, shares tips on how to break the pattern of stress-induced munching.

During a high-stress situation it's natural to feel pulled toward something that distracts you and makes you feel better fast — and often that something is food, explains Jean Kristeller, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at Indiana State University and president of the board of directors at the Center for Mindful Eating. "Eating can become an automatic, unconscious response to tension and anxiety," says Kristeller. "But learning to become more mindful in these moments can help you break that pattern of automatic reactivity." Here's how.

ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU'RE STRESSED. "We don't always recognize when we're on edge, and it's hard to interrupt something if you don't know you're in the middle of it," says Kristeller. Learn to recognize your stress signals, which might include headaches, rapid breathing, or munching when you're not hungry.

ENJOY WHAT YOU'RE EATING. "If you're just stuffing food down, you're not enjoying its tastes, textures, and smells, which is how we derive comfort from food in the first place," says Kristeller. The more you savor your food, the fewer bites you'll need to get the comfort you seek.

LISTEN TO YOUR WISDOM FROM PAST EXPERIENCES. Maybe during your last stress-induced binge you devoured a half-dozen doughnuts — and the guilt you felt afterward only added to your stress. This time, take steps to maintain portion control: Pick up a single doughnut at the bakery instead of a dozen.

PAUSE. When you find yourself mindlessly diving into a bag of potato chips, stop and check in with yourself. "Think: Do I really want to eat this? Is it going to be helpful?" suggests Kristeller. Taking this moment to reflect can help interrupt the automatic urge to nosh.

DON'T IGNORE YOUR CRAVINGS. Denying that those cookies are calling your name will only strengthen your desire to have one, but acknowledging your craving creates choice: Do you want to have one cookie now, or wait until the urge is so overpowering that you inhale an entire sleeve of cookies? Recognizing that you have choices puts you in charge, not the craving.

EVALUATE YOUR HUNGER. "Often we don't distinguish between physical hunger and emotionally driven cravings," says Kristeller. Rate your physical hunger on a scale of 0 to 10, with 0 being not hungry at all and 10 being famished. If it's a 0, 1, or 2, reconsider that pantry raid. If it's a 9 or 10, eat something healthy first: "If you're really, really hungry, you're more vulnerable to overeating," says Kristeller.